We haven’t seen the stunning Ms. Pinto of “Slumdog Millionaire” fame on the red carpet in a while – and she always looks the picture of perfection. She arrived in NYC to the premier of M. Night Shyamalan’s new major action adventure which opens today: in which a child avatar has to defend his people against the four elements – with her boyfriend, Dev Patal, who’s in Shymalan’s new movie. The two Indian actors became a couple sometime during the making of “Slumdog Millionaire,” in which they played lovers. In NY, Freida turned it out beautifully in this green Oscar de la Renta dress, so elegantly fitting her – so ladylike. She paired it with a Roger Vivier Prisme Pochette and Open Toe pump, and it takes our breath away. It’s a lot of millonaire, and no hint of slum or dog.

Fashion Rule’s has learned that “Slumdog Millionaire” model/actress Freida Pinto is in line to become the new face of Estee Lauder in their cosmetic ad campaigns. It’s almost like a story out of the movie. Pinto was a model in India when she was cast in the movie – and it’s her first movie – which of course, went on to to win the Oscar for Best Picture this year. She became a true overnight sensation, and has since been cast in the new Woody Allen film.

But landing the Estee Lauder campaign is an enormous thing in the beauty business. Elizabeth Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow were the most recent faces of Lauder – and the Lauder campaign made Elizabeth Hurley an international superstar. The Pinto deal is not confirmed yet, but we have a feeling it will be very soon.

No doubt, her great looks throughout awards season – in Christian LaCroix, John Galliano and other amazing designers – didn’t hurt, either. Of course, another Indian beauty – Ashwaria Rai – had a Revlon contract and was considered “the world’s most beautiful woman.” It looks like Pinto could grab that title. Forget Russian models! It’s all about Indian women now!

We have not seen all that many celebrities, neither at New York fall fashion week in early Feb, nor in Milan this week, either. Of course, having stars at shows mean the fashion house has to fly them in, put them up in great hotels, and dress them – and that takes beaucoup de cash, a tough call in these trying times.

But Dolce & Gabbana pulled out the stops this week for their fall Milan runway show: they had Eva Mendes, Freida Pinto, Kate Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, and Naomi Watts in their front row. We can’t ever remember a front row ANYWHERE with that kind of star power. They even had supermodels Eva Herzigova, Claudia Schiffer, Nadja Auermann and Lauren Hutton there – they dressed EVERY single one of them. What that says to us here at Fashion Rules is that Dolce is working hard to be THE celebrity brand – something Giorgia Armani and Donatella Versace used to work terribly hard at, and seem to have given up the reigns for a bit. It definitely puts a big drain on the budget, although many brands believe it pays off – in perfume sales, in shoe sales, etc. And certainly, makeup.

It looks like “Slumdog’s” Freida Pinto got the best dress: a cream silk mini with a black embellished belt. Eva Mendes was in a purple cocktail dress that was not so flattering. Kate Hudson wore a brown suit with black lapels and a black camisole. Naomi Watts wore a grey cocktail dress and black cardigan. And Scarlett Johansson wore a skintight pale mint silk cocktail dress that looked pretty amazing with her new auburn hair color and killer red lips (probably Dolce’s new red lipstick from Pat McGrath).

Will it pay off for Dolce to have imported all this Hollywood talent? Clearly, it must, or they wouldn’t spring for it. Their efforts are very aggressive.

FIDM, the fashion institute in downtown LA, is holding a symposium on March 11th between 6:30PM and 8:30PM – a panel discussion with major stylists, moderated by fashion pr Margaret Schell of SPR, who represents designer Sue Wong and many others.

On the panel will be stylist Tanya Gill, who has worked with Hilary Swank, Kate Winslet and Debra Messing; George Kotsiopoulos (photo above), Editor-at-Large of C Magazine and stylist to Zooey Deschenel and Freida Pinto; and Renelou Padora, an assistant to stylists like Lisa Cooper and Laury Smith. It should certainly get into all the areas of profession of being a stylist. RSVP to FIDM at bchiatt@fidm.com, and the locale is at the FIDM school, 919 S. Grand Avenue, 5th floor, room 500, in downtown LA. Drinks will be served at 6:30PM, the discussion is at 7PM, and a Q and A starts at 8PM.

Everybody’s weighing in on Oscar fashion – even those highly well-dressed women on “The View” (if you didn’t denote a note of sarcasm in print, we’re letting you know – that’s sarcastic!). Consensus has it that Marisa Tomei’s Versace couture had too much fabric and pleating (that’s what designer Randolph Duke said on KABC last night), that Miley Cyrus was dressed far too old, that Kate Winslet looked amazing in her YSL chicness, that Penelope Cruz (in vintage Balmain) and Sarah Jessica Parker (in Dior couture) stole the night – this is what Fashion Rules has to say, since we certainly have our own opinion:

MAJOR HITS  

• Penelope Cruz in her vintage Balmain – the Oscar winner switched it up from black to white, and while her miles of latte-like froth did look a little bridal – it was still a stunner, with her Audrey style hair.
• SJP in Dior Couture – miles and miles of seafoam tulle – if only she’d run down the streets of Manhattan in it now!
• Natalie Portman in Rodarte fuscia – a strapless close fitting body skimming princess gown. She took our breath away – and definitely had the best makeup of the night. Or maybe it’s just the best face.
• Kate Winslet in YSL two tone steel gray and black lace – a fabulous combo, a new style look for the red carpet, a great label, and a great fit. Lots of controversy about that molded hair – we loved it. It’s SO new.
• Taraji P. Henson in white strapless tiered Roberto Cavalli with a major Harry Winston diamond necklace – she looked classy AND like she was having fun – a rare combo. And it fit her beautifully.
• Freida Pinto in John Galliano one sleeved electric blue lace. It looked Indian and Parisian at the same time, and made her look more impossibly gorgeous than she is. And that’s hard.
• Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab Couture. The dress was all about her body – as well it should be. Those green honking Lorraine Schwartz earrings and ring were amazing on her – and a whole different way to go for Oscar jewels.
• Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott feathered white gown – fabulous. She wore her longtime stylist’s designer – very loyal, and it looked great. Why didn’t anyone care, though?

MINOR HITS  

• Amy Adams in red Carolina Herrera with a Fred Leighton collar necklace. Redheads in red, it’s an old topic. Essentially, it was a risk – and while the dress fit perfectly, we wish it was green – or blue – red on a red carpet just screams. The necklace was gorgeous, flattered her eyes – but stole the dress’s thunder, and didn’t really work with the color red.
• Viola Davis in an accordian pleat gold deco gown by Reem Acra – very pretty, very appropriate. Very flattering on her.
• Evan Rachel Wood in pale Elie Saab couture – very pretty, and less Goth than usual.
• Marisa Tomei in pale silver Versace major pleated gown with train – okay, so it was a whole LOTTA dress, and the train was high maintenance. It was quite a stunner and a major high fashion dress. Marisa has emerged this awards season as a real fashion risk taker. We applaud her, and loved it.
• Diane Lane in a black Dolce & Gabbana corset gown. It’s impossible for this woman to look bad.
•  Anne Hathaway in white sparkly Armani Prive – okay, we liked the pailettes, even if it weighed two tons, and she always looks pretty – loved the clean hair and red lips. But she looked uncomfortable and weighed down, and we think she could have done better. And she has done better – the Globes dress was MUCH better.
• Tilda Swinton – she toned it down in a blouse and skirt ensemble that was chic, and we like evening separates. Her red lips looked great with it. She’s an Oscar avant gardist, and we love her bravery.
• Tina Fey – she didn’t wear BLACK!!! She wore silver!! She looked HOT!! And cool! In Zac Posen – what a cool NY girl should wear.
• Halle Berry in black strapless and gold Marchesa – pretty.
• Beyonce in a mermaid black and gold House of Dereon design, probably her own. Very sexy.

MAJOR MISSES      

• Heidi Klum in the red thigh-high slit giant collared Roland Mouret: sorry, Heidi – but a fashion professional gets judged even more harshly. You wore a red dress like this to the Oscars before. Come ON, the whole idea is to look different. We love Roland Mouret, but this one looked like something out of “The Jetsons” – and the high slit was more becoming to the Grammy’s. Do you really need that much attention? They better get “Project Runway” back on the air, pronto!
• Vanessa Hudgens in an encrusted Marchesa fishtail black and white gown – too much texture on too tiny a girl. Her hair and makeup were pretty, though.
• Sophia Loren – okay, so she’s an icon, and she’s nearly eighty. She was wearing a child’s dress in an adult size – and a deep fake tan in a yellow dress – please, let’s leave that to Donatella.
• Miley Cyrus – You’ve dressed like you’re 12. Now you dressed like you’re 40. What about 16? That dress by Zuhair Muhrad looked like it might have worked at the Oscars in 1958.
•  Goldie Hawn – Does it matter who designed that beige nightgown? Her tan boobs were falling out, and it was just – embarrassing. Has she ever heard the word “class” – ?

MINOR MISSES  

• Reese Witherspoon’s two tone black and blue Rodarte was fashion forward, but overwhelming on her – she’s too tiny for all that dress. Also, her hair and makeup just flopped. Stylists Claire and Nina Hallworth just don’t do her justice.
•  Jessica Biel – the bow front white Prada was a cool move, a very fashion move – but it obscured her amazing figure. Maybe women liked this dress – but men wanted that big bow GONE. Interesting choice, though.
• Meryl Streep – the dress actually wasn’t that bad. She’s done worse. Now that hair  . . . . .
• Alicia Keys – that lavender Armani Prive gown was great. The hair was WAY too big, and so were those earrings!!!!!
• Jennifer Aniston in silver Valentino strapless – again, she didn’t wear black – that’s major for her. However, leaving her hair down and undone, and wearing an old-school style gown – she looked like she doesn’t care about fashion. And she doesn’t.

Looking at Freida Pinto arrive at the Oscars, you might think her deep electric blue one shoulder long sleeve gown – all lace, beading, and tulle -  was Indian-made. But in fact, it’s John Galliano – not Christian Dior, but Galliano’s own line. In any case, it’s magnificent and she could not have done a better job! Her ring is a hundred and fifty year old Indian ring by Martin Katz, and her shoes are Choo, and she’s wearing a Judith Leiber bag. Bravo!! Slumdog no more!

Are you ready for next week? Recession be damned, Europeans, New Yorkers, wanna be’s and be’s will be pouring into L.A. for Oscar Week, fresh from NY Fashion Week – as Oscar Week in LA is really as close as LA comes to LA Fashion Week. (We don’t take those cute little ‘shows’ at Smashbox too seriously. They are all about kids with rich daddy’s buying them shows – half the lines are out of business now.)

The true fun begins on Wednesday Feb 18 at 60 Thompson when Swarovski crystal’s Nadja Swarovski, fresh from London, arrives into town – the company is the title sponsor of the Costume Designers Guild Awards, which take place the night before. Not only will every major stylist, costume designer, fashion designer and editor turn up at the top of the hotel – the very chic pool area, which has a great view of the city – but celebs like Freida Pinto, Kate Walsh, Perrey Reeves, Michele Hicks, Marion Cotillard, Kelly Carlson, Margherita Missoni – and even designer Reem Acra herself – will be on hand. This IS the Fashion Oscar party, it sounds like. Marilyn Heston’s MHA Media is throwing it, and they are the pr film who’ve made the aforementioned Ms. Acra and Elie Saab SO hot this awards season. Perhaps Reem will be wearing one of her fall designs from her highly anticipated show this weekend in NYC. – Merle Ginsberg

   The Oscars are Feb 22, the Independent Spirit Awards are Feb 21 – but if you are jonesing for more awards show fashion, this weekend brings you both the Grammys on Sunday – and the BAFTA Awards, essentially, the British Academy Awards. Since London is nine hours ahead of Los Angeles, the winners and photos will start showing up online on Sunday at our time around noon. Fashion Rules will be posting photos and fashion news as soon as the show starts.

                      There is an award for “Best British Film,” but otherwise, the nominees are not that different than the Oscar nominees, so expect to see, in the leading actress category, Angelina Jolie,  Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet TWICE in the lead category (what is she cancels herself out and doesn’t win?), and Kristin Scott Thomas, who is actually British and not Oscar nominated. In the Supporting Actress category, there are Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Marisa Tomei, but instead of Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson who are up for Oscars, there are Freida Pinto from “Slumdog” and Tilda Swinton (a Brit) from “Burn After Reading.” Tilda is always a fashion highlight – so look for BAFTA coverage on Fashion Rules this Sunday.

Of course, the Oscar nominations were named today at 5:34 am, and we have a feeling the actresses – and their stylists – in the Supporting Actress category (Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Marisa Tomei) are VERY happy that their biggest competition – Kate Winslet, who swept the Golden Globes – is listed ONLY in the Best Actress category (Winslet, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Melissa Leo). This means these Supporting Nominees now have a much improved chance of winning – and of shining at the Oscars. Fashion Rules’ pic for MOST GLAMOUROUS AT THE OSCARS is between Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and Angelina – and if Angelina choses to dress down – as she has done lately to awards shows – Penelope and Anne will really stand out, as they are both scene stealers when it comes to their amazing wardrobes. It’s a good year for brunettes, that’s for sure. And no doubt, Freida Pinto from “Slumdog Millionaire” will be quite glamourous, too.

Stylists – on your marks – get ready – GO! There’s only a month to go.

The good news is – Paris couture is next week! And, unlike our new First Lady, THESE ladies don’t HAVE to wear American designers.